Vilmos Zsigmond Cause Of Death, Wife, Age, Biography

Vilmos Zsigmond Net Worth

Vilmos Zsigmond, a Hungarian-American cinematographer had an estimated net worth of $15 million.

Vilmos Zsigmond Biography

Vilmos Zsigmond, a Hungarian-American cinematographer, was born on June 16, 1930, in Szeged, Hungary. His parents were Bozena, an administrator, and Vilmos Zsigmond, a soccer player and coach.

Career

Zsigmond's journey into cinematography began when he developed an interest in photography at age 17, inspired by a book of black-and-white photographs. However, due to the Soviet-imposed government restrictions, he couldn't formally study photography. Undeterred, he taught himself and even organized a camera club for workers.

Eventually, he gained permission to study cinema at the Academy of Drama and Film in Budapest, earning an MA in cinematography. Afterwards, he worked in a Budapest feature film studio for five years.

In 1956, during the Hungarian Revolution, Zsigmond and his friend László Kovács secretly filmed the events using a hidden camera. They escaped to Austria and sold the footage to CBS. In 1962, Zsigmond became a naturalized U.S. citizen and settled in Los Angeles, initially working in photo labs.

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He began his American film career in 1963, working on The Sadist and continued with low-budget independent and educational films throughout the 1960s.

In 1971, Zsigmond's breakthrough came when Robert Altman hired him for McCabe & Mrs. Miller. This marked his entry into major Hollywood productions. Over the next decade, he became a highly sought-after cinematographer, working on notable films like Deliverance, The Long Goodbye, Obsession, The Sugarland Express, and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, which earned him an Academy Award.

In 1978, Zsigmond worked on The Deer Hunter, which earned him a BAFTA Award and another Academy Award nomination. He continued to collaborate with directors such as Brian De Palma, Mark Rydell, George Miller, Kevin Smith, and Woody Allen on various films.

His television work included the HBO miniseries Stalin, for which he won an Emmy Award. Zsigmond also contributed to The Mindy Project.

Achievements

Zsigmond's exceptional work led to numerous accolades. He won the Academy Award for Best Cinematography for Close Encounters of the Third Kind and the BAFTA Award for The Deer Hunter. He received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Society of Cinematographers in 1998. In 2003, he was recognized as one of the ten most influential cinematographers in history.

Legacy and Contributions

Vilmos Zsigmond's life and career were featured in the documentary No Subtitles Necessary: Laszlo & Vilmos, which aired in 2009. In 2011, he co-founded the Global Cinematography Institute in Los Angeles, providing advanced cinematography education.

Zsigmond was known for his use of Tiffen filters and the technique of flashing or pre-fogging to create unique colour palettes in his films.

Vilmos Zsigmond's Death

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Tragically, Vilmos Zsigmond passed away on January 1, 2016, at his home in Big Sur, California, at the age of 85.

What Is Vilmos Zsigmond Famous For?

Vilmos Zsigmond is renowned for his groundbreaking work in cinematography, which significantly influenced the look of American movies in the 1970s. He is best known for his contributions to films like Close Encounters of the Third Kind and “The Deer Hunter.”

Vilmos Zsigmond Parents

Vilmos Zsigmond's parents were Bozena (née Illichman) and Vilmos Zsigmond, the latter being a soccer player and coach.